The Ground-based Midcourse Defense system did not shoot down a ballistic missile target over the Pacific Ocean during a scheduled intercept test Wednesday, the Missile Defense Agency announced. The intermediate-range target missile successfully flew from the Kwajalein Atoll in the western Pacific and the ground-based interceptor missile successfully fired from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., and deployed its kill vehicle for the hoped-for collision with the target missile in space. And all sensors, including the sea-based X-band radar system, performed as planned, stated MDA. Still the intercept did not occur. MDA said it will conduct an extensive investigation to determine the cause of the intercept failure. Officials will determine the timeline of the next test after they have identified the cause.
Former Air Force Secretary James G. Roche Dies at 86
Aug. 21, 2026
James G. Roche, the 20th Secretary of the Air Force from 2001-2005, died Aug. 4. He was 86. As Secretary, Roche led the Air Force through the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and subsequent preparations and campaigns in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003.